AN ARSONIST who set fire to a bag containing lighter fluid and aerosol cans because he thought his girlfriend was cheating on him has been jailed.

Following a trial, John Charlesworth, of Luther Street, Oxford, was convicted of arson with intent to endanger life on February 10 this year in Priory Street, Oxford.

Recorder Andrew Burrows said the 36-year-old started a fire outside the front door of his disabled former friend Clint Mayo at about 3pm.

Passing sentence at Oxford Crown Court yesterday Recorder Burrows said it was only the “swift and brave actions” of a police officer that prevented anyone being injured in the blaze.

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Recorder Burrows said Charlesworth had been staying at the address with his then- girlfriend Charlotte Bedford, but became convinced she was having an affair with Mr Mayo.

He said the defendant came to the flat and started shouting aggressively, as well as banging on the doors and windows, with his “petrified” partner inside.

Recorder Burrows said a black bag of the arsonist’s belongings, containing deodorant cans and lighter fluid, was put outside the front door in the hope of making him go away – but he set it on fire.

The Recorder said: “When the police arrived the flames were as high as the door. There was intense heat and thick black smoke and one of the aerosol cans exploded.

“A lady upstairs with her 11-year-old son felt the heat hit her.”

Recorder Burrows awarded Sgt Russell Stevenson a court commendation for fetching a fire extinguisher from his car and putting out the blaze.

Jane Malcolm, defending, said her client, who has 47 offences on his record including two robberies, still didn’t accept starting the fire.

She said: “There was limited damage caused by the fire, mainly to the door and the hallway, and luckily no one was injured.

“There were flammable items that were set alight in the bag.

“But he didn’t take those items with him, it was a spur of the moment thing. This offence is out of character for Mr Charlesworth.”

Recorder Burrows said: “But for the quick actions of the police officers, and in particular Sgt Stevenson, the fire could have spread and the consequences could have been very serious. There was a lady with her 11-year-old son living upstairs.

“The fire was close to the stairs so she could not exit the building.”

He sentenced Charlesworth to seven years and six months in prison and told him to pay a £120 victims’ surcharge when he is released.

Speaking after the case, Sgt Stevenson said: “I am glad the court recognised the serious nature and devastating potential of this incident with the sentence given.

“The position and size of this deliberate fire started by Charlesworth could have had deadly consequences for those in the block of flats.”


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